If you’re replacing your furnace in Cincinnati, you may be wondering whether it makes sense to stick with natural gas or switch to electric heat.

It’s a question we’re hearing more often as homeowners become increasingly interested in energy efficiency, lowering their carbon footprint and making their homes less dependent on fossil fuels.

But in Cincinnati, the answer isn’t quite as simple as saying electric is greener or gas is cheaper.

Our climate matters. The type of electric heating system matters. Your existing HVAC setup matters. And your priorities as a homeowner matter, too.

Here’s what Cincinnati homeowners should know when comparing gas and electric heating.

Gas Furnace vs. Electric Furnace: What’s the Difference?

A gas furnace burns natural gas to create heat. A blower then distributes that heated air throughout your home using your ductwork.

READ MORE: Cincinnati Furnace Costs

An electric furnace looks and operates similarly, but instead of burning gas, it uses electric heating elements to generate heat.

Electric furnaces can technically convert almost all of the electricity they consume into heat at the home. That is extremely efficient, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re inexpensive to operate.

That’s because electricity and natural gas are priced differently, and Cincinnati homes require a significant amount of heating during the winter.

Ohio is considered part of the northern region for furnace efficiency purposes, where colder temperatures and greater heating demands make heating efficiency especially important.

Which Costs Less to Operate in Cincinnati?

For many Cincinnati-area homes with access to natural gas, a high-efficiency gas furnace can offer a good combination of operating cost, heating capacity and comfort during cold weather.

Today’s high-efficiency condensing gas furnaces can reach approximately 95% AFUE or higher. That means around 95% or more of the fuel consumed is converted into usable heat over the heating season.

That’s a major improvement over older furnaces. An older 80% AFUE furnace, for example, loses considerably more energy through its exhaust.

Electric resistance furnaces are technically close to 100% efficient, but electricity generally costs more per unit of delivered heat than natural gas. That can make an electric furnace more expensive to operate in a heating-heavy climate.

The exact difference for your home depends on current utility rates, furnace efficiency, thermostat settings, insulation, home size and how cold the winter is.

But What If I Want a Greener Heating System?

This is where the comparison between a gas and electric furnace can get more skewed.

Natural gas furnaces create carbon dioxide when they burn fuel in your home. An electric heating system doesn’t produce combustion emissions at your house.

However, electricity has to come from somewhere. The environmental impact of electric heating therefore depends partly on how the electricity supplying your home is generated.

As the electric grid incorporates more lower-carbon and renewable energy sources, the emissions associated with electric heating can change over the lifetime of the equipment.

So if reducing fossil-fuel use is one of your priorities, an electric furnace might make sense, but it’s still not our top choice.

If You Want to Go Electric, Consider a Heat Pump

For Cincinnati homeowners interested in electric heating, a heat pump is often a much more compelling option than a traditional electric furnace.

Why?

An electric furnace creates heat using electrical resistance. A heat pump primarily moves heat from outside your home to the inside.

Because it moves heat rather than generating all of its heat directly, a heat pump can deliver substantially more heating for the electricity it consumes. Modern heat pumps can use dramatically less electricity for heating than electric resistance furnaces.

And heat pump technology has improved considerably.

Cold-climate heat pumps are specifically designed to maintain better capacity and efficiency as outdoor temperatures fall below freezing, making electric heating more practical in climates like ours than it once was.

There’s another advantage: a heat pump can both heat and cool your home, essentially taking the place of your traditional air conditioner during the summer.

What About Cincinnati’s Really Cold Days?

This is one of the most important considerations when choosing a heating system here.

Cincinnati doesn’t have Minnesota winters, but we absolutely experience stretches of freezing temperatures and occasional extreme cold.

That’s why equipment selection and sizing matter.

Depending on the home and equipment, homeowners considering a heat pump may choose an all-electric system designed for cold-weather operation or a dual-fuel system.

READ MORE: Heat Pump Aux Heat Setting

With a dual-fuel system, the heat pump handles much of the heating during milder weather. When temperatures become especially cold or conditions make gas heat more economical, the system can switch to a gas furnace.

For homeowners who want to reduce natural gas consumption without giving up the powerful backup heat of a furnace, dual fuel can offer an attractive middle ground.

Is Installation Different for a Gas Furnace vs. an Electric Furnace or Heat Pump?

Yes, although how different the installation is depends heavily on what you already have in your home.

If you’re replacing an existing gas furnace with another gas furnace, the installation is usually relatively straightforward. The new furnace can often use much of the home’s existing infrastructure, including the ductwork and natural gas supply. However, venting and drainage may need to be changed when upgrading from an older furnace to a high-efficiency condensing model.

Replacing a gas furnace with an electric furnace can require more significant changes. An electric furnace doesn’t need a gas line or combustion vent, but it can require a substantial amount of electrical power. Depending on your home’s existing electrical panel and available capacity, an electrical upgrade may be necessary.

Switching from a traditional furnace and air conditioner to a heat pump is different again. Because a heat pump provides both heating and cooling, the installation typically involves an outdoor heat pump unit along with compatible indoor equipment. The contractor also needs to make sure the system is properly sized to meet your home’s heating needs during Cincinnati’s colder winter weather.

If you’re considering a dual-fuel system, the installation combines a heat pump with a gas furnace. The controls are set up so the system can determine when to use the heat pump and when to rely on the furnace.

So, while switching heating types is certainly possible, it isn’t always as simple as removing one furnace and putting another in its place. Your existing electrical service, gas connection, ductwork, air conditioner and other HVAC equipment all need to be considered.

That’s one reason it’s helpful to compare the total cost of the installation, rather than simply comparing the prices of the individual pieces of equipment.

What About Carbon Monoxide? Can Electric Furnaces or Heat Pumps Produce It?

Carbon monoxide is another important difference between gas and electric heating.

A gas furnace burns fuel, and carbon monoxide can be produced during the combustion process. A properly installed and maintained gas furnace is designed to safely vent combustion gases outside. However, problems such as a damaged heat exchanger, blocked venting or other combustion-related issues can potentially allow carbon monoxide to enter the home.

That’s why homes with gas furnaces and other fuel-burning appliances should have properly installed and functioning carbon monoxide detectors.

An electric furnace does not burn natural gas or another fuel, so the furnace itself does not produce carbon monoxide.

The same is true of a heat pump. Heat pumps use electricity and refrigerant to transfer heat rather than creating heat through combustion, so a standard electric heat pump does not produce carbon monoxide.

There is one important exception to keep in mind: having an electric furnace or heat pump doesn’t necessarily mean there is no possible source of carbon monoxide anywhere in the home. A gas water heater, fireplace, gas stove, attached garage or another fuel-burning appliance could still create a carbon monoxide risk.

A dual-fuel system also still includes a gas furnace. When the furnace portion of the system is operating, combustion is taking place just as it would with a conventional gas furnace.

For homeowners interested in eliminating combustion from their HVAC system, an all-electric furnace or heat pump offers that advantage in addition to eliminating the need for a furnace gas connection and combustion vent.

Not Sure Whether Gas or Electric Is Right for Your Cincinnati Home?

At Quality Comfort Home Services, we don’t believe every homeowner needs the same type of HVAC system.

Some families are primarily interested in keeping their monthly heating costs down. Others want the highest-efficiency equipment available. And increasingly, some homeowners want to reduce their reliance on natural gas and make their home more environmentally friendly.

We can help you compare a high-efficiency gas furnace, heat pump, electric heating system or dual-fuel setup based on your actual home and priorities.

If it’s time to replace your furnace or you’re considering switching how your home is heated, contact Quality Comfort Home Services to schedule a free HVAC estimate in the Cincinnati area.